In election year how pm modi closed the distance between mauritius and bihar

In election year how pm modi closed the distance between mauritius and bihar

It is often referred to as “mini Bihar” on account of the large number of people from the eastern state who were relocated there as indentured labourers, starting in 1834. In his recently concluded visit to Mauritius, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went all out to signal his intent to strengthen ties with the thriving Bihari diaspora in the island nation, presenting makhana (fox nuts) to his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam and starting his speech at an event in Bhojpuri.

For the BJP, the PM’s visit to Mauritius, filled with symbolism, comes at an apt time as later this year it will contest the Bihar Assembly elections to retain power in the key battleground state. In the two days the PM was in the island nation, there were multiple references to the state and its people, be it through language, food, or culture.

Upon landing in Port Louis, a group of women welcomed the PM with a traditional Bhojpuri song, called Gawai, that is sung on happy occasions such as weddings and since 2016, has been part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage. “Raaja ke sobhe la maathe mauriya, Krishna ke sobhe la haathe bansooriya, aho raaja naachela naachela, Krishna bajaave bansooriya (the king looks good with a crown on his head, Krishna looks good with a flute in his hand; oh the king dances, Krishna plays the flute),” the women sang.

Almost 70% of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin and more than 50% are conversant in Bhojpuri. Throughout the visit, the PM’s social media handles put up posts in Bhojpuri and were shared by senior BJP leaders and members. During the Lok Sabha elections last year, the NDA lost in some of the major Bhojpuri-speaking constituencies such as Buxar, Ara, Sasaram, and Aurangabad. The Bhojpuri belt in Bihar is spread across 10 districts and comprises 73 Assembly seats.

Gifting makhana to his counterpart, the PM said it would soon be part of the global menu. This was a highly symbolic move at a time when makhana has been in focus in India. In the Union Budget last month, the government announced the setting up of a Makhana Board, with an eye on the votes of the Mallah community (fisherfolk and boatmen) that does not have fixed loyalties in Bihar’s political landscape.

Talking about reviving the “Nalanda spirit”, PM Modi said, “I also understand your emotional connection with Bihar. When many parts of the world were far away from education, a global institute like Nalanda came up in Bihar. Our government has again revived Nalanda University and its spirit.”

The revival of Nalanda University has been a key part of the Modi government’s diplomatic messaging on the country’s endeavour to emerge as a “Vishwa Bandhu (global friend)”. Last year, PM Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar took along ambassadors from 17 countries to Rajgir in Bihar for the inauguration of the Nalanda University’s new campus next to the ruins of the ancient one.

To emphasise the familial links between Mauritians and Indians, Modi said he had brought Sangam water from the Maha Kumbh for his “family members in Mauritius who could not attend”. The PM also mixed the water in the Ganga Talao (Grand Basin) in Port Louis and presented a copper pot with Ganga water to Ramgoolam.

Focus on Bihar in outreach

This is not the first time that Modi has reached out to the Bihar diaspora, earlier doing so in other island nations such as Guyana, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and Seychelles.

In Guyana, where people of Indian origin, mostly from Bihar, make up 43.5% of the population, the PM had presented a Madhubani painting to President Irfan Ali during his visit last year. The PM also visited the Indian Arrival Monument that commemorates the arrival of the first ship carrying Indian indentured labourers to the Caribbean in 1838.

At the beginning of this year, Trinidad & Tobago’s President Christine Kangaloo was the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual flagship event that the government organises to celebrate the Indian diaspora.

Recently, the PM also gifted US Vice President J D Vance’s son a Madhubani-themed jigsaw puzzle.